BRANDON AND BYSHOTTLES PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS 6 GOATBECK TERRACE, LANGLEY MOOR, DURHAM ON FRIDAY 17 TH APRIL 2015 AT 6.30 PM

PRESENT Councillor T Akins (in the Chair) and Councillors Mrs Akins, Mrs Bonner, Bell, Mrs Chaplow, Clegg, Mrs Gates, Graham, Grantham, Jamieson, Mrs Leckenby, Nelson, Mrs Nelson, Rippin, Sims, Taylor and Mrs Wharton

204. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest received from Members.

205. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

There were no questions from the public in the specified time.

206. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jones, Mrs Rodgers, Stoddart and Turnbull.

RESOLVED: To receive the apologies.

207. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 20 TH MARCH 2015

Councillor Sims apologies were omitted from the minutes.

RESOLVED: To amend the minutes and then confirm as a true record.

208. PRESENTATION OF DONATION

The Chairman presented a donation to the following:

Great North Air Ambulance

209. PRESENTATION OF CHEQUE TO LESLEY BAXTER, ST. JOHN’S HALL, MEADOWFIELD

The Chairman presented a cheque from the proceeds of his charity evening to Lesley Baxter towards the rebuild of St. John’s Hall.

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210. POLICE REPORT

The Police gave a report of crime in Brandon, Meadowfield and Langley Moor. The Members pointed out that details of PACT meetings for the Parish area were still not on the Police website. Sgt Paul Williams said he would address this issue.

RESOLVED: To receive the report.

211. REPORT FROM UNITARY COUNCILLORS

The Unitary Councillors report included the following:-

• 97.7% of waste has now been diverted from landfill sites. Household waste recycling at 42% mainly due to contamination. Durham County Council continuing to educate public • Installation of cameras at fly tipping hot spots has resulted in an increased number of investigations of perpetrators and issues of fixed penalty notices • Woman in Stanley received 20 week custodial sentence for fraudulently claiming £37,000 in benefit over 4 years • Plan – Durham County Council taking legal advice. The existing City of Durham Plan still in operation in the meantime • Durham County Council’s housing transfers to County Durham Housing Group now complete.

212. TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING –APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

Extracts from planning application lists had been forwarded to the appropriate Ward Councillors.

An objection has been made to the proposed application for 4 dwellings on land to the rear of Walton’s Terrace, New on the following grounds: • Highway safety • Loss of privacy for occupants of nearby dwellings • Sightings of great crested newts

Permission had been granted for the proposed change of use to garden curtilage and erection of detached garage block at 16 The Paddock, Waterhouses, Durham

Permission and refusals had been received.

DM/15/00253/FPA Dunelm Geotechnical Construction of 4 no. Environmental industrial units with access road and associated infrastructure Edwardson Road, Meadowfield Industrial Estate, Meadowfield, Durham DH7 8RL

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212. TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING –APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION (Continued)

DM/15/00017/FPA Mr John Slater 4 dwellings. Land to the Rear of Waltons Terrace, New Brancepeth, Durham.

RESOLVED: To receive the applications.

213. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMME OF CONFERENCES FOR 2015/16

The conference programme for 2015/16 was presented for approval.

RESOLVED: To approve the programme of conference for 2015/16.

214. APPROVAL OF DELEGATES FOR SLCC REGIONAL ROADSHOW 2015, 3RD JUNE 2015 RAMSIDE HALL, DURHAM

RESOLVED: That the Clerk, Mrs Howe and Councillor Mrs Nelson attend.

215. CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT POLICIES FOR APPROVAL

The following draft policies were presented to Council for approval:

a) Equality & Diversity b) Grant Awarding c) Officer Code of Conduct

RESOLVED: a) To amend the policy to include Members and then approve the policy b) To add a clause ‘at Members discretion’ at point 3 and then approve the policy. c) To approve the policy.

216. FRIENDS OF LANGLEY MOOR - REQUEST FOR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS INSTALLATION OF PLANTER IN LANGLEY MOOR

A letter had been received from the FOLM regarding the above.

RESOLVED: To request further information from the group regarding cost, style and future maintenance of the planter.

217. LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY CODE- TO CONSIDER THE INFORMATION AND REPORT

The Clerk presented a report and information on the Local Government Transparency Code which sets out publication requirements for Councils with a turnover of £200,000 and above. The Code is not mandatory.

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217. LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY CODE- TO CONSIDER THE INFORMATION AND REPORT (Continued)

RESOLVED: That, as the Code is not mandatory, and the publication of the requested information would have a significant impact on officer time, the Council could not at the present comply with the code.

218. CONSULTATION ON INTRODUCING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMAN’S JURISDICTION TO LARGER PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS

The above had been received for consultation.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Nelson would liaise with the Clerk to formulate a response.

219. PARISH PATHS MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME- CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THIS YEAR’S MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME TO SUPPLEMENT REDUCTION IN GRANT FROM DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

The Parish Council had been informed by Durham County Council that the P3 grant scheme has had a budget cut of 25%. Therefore the Parish Council’s grant claim of £1,824 has been reduced to £1,347, a shortfall of £477. The Council will therefore need to consider whether to reduce the number of cuts to the footpaths or contribute the £477 to maintain the existing programme.

RESOLVED: That the Parish Council provide the shortfall for the 2015 programme.

220. CIVIC FUNCTIONS FOR APPROVAL

Approval was requested for the Chairman or Vice Chairman to attend the following;

Barnard Castle T.C. Charity evening (TBC) 24.4.2015 T.C. Mayor’s Ball (TBC) 24.4.2015 T.C. Charity evening 8.5.2015 B.C. Mayor’s Farewell Charity Dinner 9.5.2015

RESOLVED: To approve attendance at the functions.

221. ACCOUNTS FOR APPROVAL

Authorisation was requested to pay accounts amounting to £8,519.39.

RESOLVED: To authorise payment of the accounts.

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222. REPORT OF CLERK

The Clerk presented a report to Council for information. The following issues arose:-

• Delivering Differently Scheme

Durham County Council has obtained funding of £90,000 which is to be used to enhance the existing working arrangements between the County and Town and Parish Councils. Councils will be asked to complete an offer document bidding for the funding towards a clean and green project.

RESOLVED: To consider improvements to Addison Park as a possible project.

• Waterhouses Play Area

Issues with the installation of the grass matting at the site are still ongoing. Waterhouses Village Hall Association has requested permission to use the land adjacent to the play area for part of their Summer Fair.

RESOLVED: a) That the Clerk make further representations to Kompan regarding the grass matting. b) That the Parish Council grant permission to the Village Hall Association to hold the fair provided they have public liability insurance in place and restore the area to its original condition following the fair.

• Mobile Football Cages

Members expressed their concern regarding the poor condition of the court at Addison Park which had been proposed as a possible venue for the mobile football cages by Durham County Council. Having met with Sportszone on site it was explained that the cages are meant to be set up on any suitable grassed area, such as in a housing estate where local children could have an informal ‘kick about’.

RESOLVED: To make further contact with Durham County Council to clarify the purpose of the cages and to look into the possibility of providing a cage at Brandon Cricket Club.

223. QUOTATIONS FOR FLORAL DISPLAYS 2015

This item was discussed in private and it was:-

RESOLVED: To award the contract to Brambledown Landscapes and to request Durham County Council to provide a floral bed at Lymington, .

The meeting ended at 7.45 pm

Signed ………………………………………..

Date ………………………………………….. 2015 76